The Department of Campus Recreation will soon enter phase two of reopening facilities on July 6.

The second phase will last until August 9 and will offer longer operation hours and facilities for UCA employees and students enrolled in the current term.

During this phase, the HPER Center will open their hours of operation from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday. The first two hours of daily operation will be open to higher-risk individuals with compromised immune systems. The pool will close at 5:30 p.m. 

Those entering the HPER Center, similar to phase one, must wear a mask and will be screened by a faculty member following standards set in place by the Arkansas Department of Health. 

“The most important thing that we will stress is that…while you are actively exercising, you do not have to wear a mask, but at any time that you are not exercising…you do have to wear the mask,” HPER Center Associate Director Anthony Fillippino said.

Open facilities will include the weight room and cardio room, the previously closed swimming pool, walking and jogging track, game area, group exercise classes, COPA and tennis courts.

Although more is being opened to gym patrons, new precautions will be put in action to protect those who use the facilities.

“One of the restrictions that we will have for swimming is that we normally do not require reservations; We will require that,” Fillippino said. “They can go onto our website and reserve a lane one hour at a time, but if there is not a reservation and there is a lane that is open, we can do walk-ups.”

Not only has COVID-19 affected hours of operation and availability to facilities in the Department of Campus Recreation, but student workers have also been impacted by the pandemic.

“We’ve had to shorten our hours so as far as student workers, that just means that less student workers are getting less hours and we know how important it is for college students to have a job,” Fillippino said.

Alongside HPER Center employees, some students have lacked time spent at the gym and have experienced additional difficulties in finding ways to exercise outside of the gym.

“It wasn’t something that I missed a whole lot, but it was frustrating that all of Walmart and Target were out of home workout equipment,” senior Lauren McLemore said. “I could have managed and done other things, but resources were really limited.”

Although there have been challenges, McLemore said she’s glad to see the gym open again despite her fear of the spreading virus.

Phase three of reopening will begin August 10 as the HPER Center is expected to return to normal hours of operation.

Further information regarding the Department of Campus Recreation can be found at https://uca.edu/campusrecreation/